Making hollow thermoplastic ware



' V. E. HOFMANN MAKING HOLLOW THERMOPLASTIC May 1.6, 19474.

Filed Aug.' 16, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1'A May 16, 1944. v. E. HOFMANN v MAKING `HOLLQW THERMOPLASTIC WARE Filed' Aug. 16 1940V s sheets-sheet 2 l A'lTOR EYS May 16, 1944. y` E Hol-'MANN 2,348,738

MAKING HoLLow THERMOPLASTIG WARE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 16. 1940 f/ 1 i e :awww/V ///////////0 /W Ugg-1Q' INVENTOR 7306er E'. Hofmann l A'rToRrgl-:Ys y

i hereinafter;

Patented May 16, 1944 MAmNqnoLLow 'rnERMoPLAs'rro WARE Victor E. Hofmann, Toledo, Ohio, assigner to Company, a. corporation Owens-Illinois Glass of Ohio Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 352,906

7 matins.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus for making hollow ware of thermoplastic materials and particularly to the manufacture of n ware from organic thermoplastics which are softened when heat is applied and which may then be blown in molds.

One method heretofore in use for molding such articles consists in heating a preformed blank to soften the material, introuducing the blank'into a heated mold and blowing it therein to shape the article, then cooling the mold to harden and set the article, and thereafter removing the article from the mold. Such method is slower than is desirable owing to the considerable length of time required for cooling the mold and also is uneconomical because of the rge 'amount `of heat required for repeatedly heating the mold.

An object of the present invention is to elimy inate the necessity of cooling the entire mold after forming an article with the result that the etliciency with respect to time and heat requirements is greatly increased. For the attainment of such object the present invention provides a method and apparatus bywhich a blank or parison of the material, which has been given a preliminary formation and is herein referred to as a preform. is processed in the following manner. The preform is heated to render it plastic, then introduced into a heated mold and blown to the form of the mold. Acooling liquid is then circulated within the blown article bywhich it is quickly chilled and' hardened, permitting the mold to be opened and the blown article removed without cooling the entire mold, only a comparatively small amount of heat being extracted from the mold. In accordance with such method the cooling action only penetrates the mold walls a comparatively short distance, permitting a quick reheating of the mold preparatory to the next succeeding operation, as well as vpermitting a rapid cooling and quick removal of the molded article.

Other objects vof the invention will appear err-ing to the accompanying drawings: Fig. l is a longitudinal partsectional elevation of an apparatus for practicing the method herein disclosed.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation at .the line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section at the line 3-3 on Fig. l showing a rotary valve disk and its operating means.

rig. t is a section atthe une t-a on Fig. 1 w

showing a non-rotating valve member cooperating with the valve disk of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5`and 6 are sectional. elevations at the lines 5--5 and 6 6, respectively, on Fig. 4.

Figs. 7 to 10 are view illustrating successive steps of the method. Fig. 'Iy is a sectional view showing a Iblank or preform Within the heating chamber. FigfB shows the preheated blank enclosed within the mold.- Fig. 9 shows the blank blown to finished form within the mold. Fig. 10 shows the. inner valve meinber lifted to permit circulation of a cooling liquid.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2, the ap- -paratus is mounted on a supporting frame or base l2. A horizontally disposed mold carriage t3 is mounted to rock up and down about the axis of a pivot shaft M journa-lled in' bearing blocks-l5 secured by bolts t6 to the base l2. The carriage i3 includes a pair of parallel angle bars Il, each of which is bolted to a pair of posts llt rising from a supporting plate or block t9 in which the pivot shaft it is mounted. Beneath the angle b ars l'l and extending lengthwise thereof are angle bars Zufastened to the bars Il by bolts 2l. The angle bars ll' and 2l) together form a pair of guideways 22 in which are slidably mounted mold sections 23 and 24 movable toward and from eachother forclosing and opening the mold.

A tie bar 25 extends transversely of the carriage i3' with each end of the bar extending between a, rail Il and the subjacent rail 2li and secured in position by bolts 26. A stop bar 2l beneath'the bar 25 and extending longitudinally thereof is attached to the bar 25 by bolts 28. The stop bar 2l provides an abutment for the mold sections 23 and 2d when the mold'is closed'. Each mold section is formed with a channel or passageway 29 extending zig-zag therethrough and communicating at its opposite ends with pipes 30 and 3l through which steam or other fluid may be circulated for heating temperature of the mold.

The molds are opened and closed by Vmeans of a piston motor operated by air or other fluid,

said vmotor comprising a, cylinder 3 2 in' 'which' piston rod 34, the mold 'section 23 by means or regulating the The mold section 24 is rigidly con- (Fig. l), closing of the mold is eected by supplying air under pressure to the pipe 38, thereby moving the mold section 23 iorward until it is arrested by the stop The mold section 24 is moved to mold closing position by the pressure in the cylinder reacting against the piston and moving the cylinder to the right, carrying with it the mold section 2li.

Means for supporting a hollow blank or preform do while being preheated and blown to finished form comprises a tubular support or sleeve il which has a supporting plate 52, the latter secured by bolts 43 to the frame it. The lower end portion of the sleeve 5l is screw-threaded to receive a clamphig nut or ring Mounted lor a short vertical movement within the sleeve all is a valve cylinder i5 or tum through which extends a tubular valve stem it .v

adapted for a limited up and down movement rel ative to the cylinder iid. A head al (see Fig. B) has a screw-threaded connection with the cylin= der 35 and is 4formed wth an annular flange it to which is attached a rubber gasket Q39. When a preform d@ (Fig. 7) is placed in position on the sleeve member ill, it is held against lateral displacement by an annular ange or rim 5G on the upper end of said sleeve member. After the preform is placed in position the cylinder @5 is moved downward a short distance as presently described so that the gasket 423 is compressed by the nance 48 and is also spread out radially, thus gripping the preform and providing an airtight seal between the interior of the preform and the surrounding atmosphere.

`The means for moving the cylinder 45 and the head 41 downward and compressing the rubber ring 49 comprises a pair of cams 53 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivoted on trunnions 54 formed on a sleeve 55 which is threaded on the cylinder 45 and locked in position by nuts 55. An operating lever 51 is connected to the cams 53 and may be swung downward from the horizontal positiomshown in full lines in Fig. 1, thereby rocking the cams into position to permit the valve cylinder to be lifted by means of coil tension springs 58 connected ,between the ring 44 and the sleeve 55. P

A valve head 5I, which also functions as a spray nozzle, is threaded on the upper end of the valve stem 45. Said head and stem have a limited up and down movement relative to the cylinder 45. A coil spring 52 mounted within the Vhead 41 and held under compressionfserves to lift the valve stemand head 5l relative to the cylinder 45. The valve stem extends downward through a head 59 havingra fixed connection with the cylinder 45 at the lower end of said cylinder. The head 59 is mounted on a stationary pipe 60 which is open through said head to the cylinder 45' and serves as an exhaust pipe as hereinafter `.set forth. Connected to the valve stem below the head 59 is valve mechanism comprising a rotary Y valve disk 5I and a nonrotatable valve disk or member $2.

The valve disk 6I is held against movement lengthwise o! the stem 46 by means of a pin 63 (Fig. 3) extending radially through the disk and engaging an annular groove B4 formed in the stem 4. The valve disk 5I is formed on its periphery with ratchet teeth 65` and is rotatable by ahand lever 55 attached to a ring 61 which surrounds the disk and carries a spring pressed pawl or dog 68 toengage the ratchet teeth. A spring actuated detent 69 (518.5) holds the valve disk against acci 'ental rotative movement.

fixed mounting in a stationaryl to the dotted vline position, A

bar 21.

assayed The lower valve member is keyed to the stem 4t by a pair of radial pins 10.preventing rotative movement of thevalvemember vB2 and causing the valve members 6I and 52, to move up and down with the stem. Such up and down movement is controlled by cam means comprising an annular cam track 1I formed on the upper face oi the valve disk 6I and lug 12 on the lower face of the stationary head 59. As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, the lug 12 is in contact with the high portion of the cam track so that the valve mechanism, including the stem da, is held in itsr lowered position. the head 5l on the valve stem 45 is held downward against the head d1 on the cylinder d5.

ring gasket 13 carried on the head di provides a seal between the heads l1 and 5l. -As the valve disk lll is rotated and carries the high portion of the cam track :trom beneath stem fli is moved upward by the spring 52, thereby lifting the valve head 5i ofi its seat and opening the cylinder l5 to the mold cavity. Rotation of the valve stem it and valve disk b2 is positively prevented by a key (Fig. 5) which is carried in the head 5S and engages a groove 15 formed in the valve stem.

Air under pressure `for expanding the preform 4@ within' the mold is supplied from' any suitable source (not shown). through an air line including a channel 1B (Figs. 4, 6) extending within the valve 52 and opening into a short channel 11 in the rotary valve disk, said channel 11 opening into an arc-shaped channel 18 in the lower valve member. The channel 18 is in continuous communication with the interior oi the tubular `:stein 45 through a port ,19.

Means for Aheating the parison 40 preliminary to blowing it in the mold comprises a heating device in. the form of a chamber 50 (Fig. 7) in which-are electrical heating elements 8l.

Operation A cycle of operations is as follows:

Assuming the mold 23. 24 to be open andthe carriage I3 swung upward about the axis I4, a hollow parison or preform 40 is placed inl posi-v tion on the holding/sleeve 4I (Fig. '1). The heating chamber is then porting plate 42 and the parison heated to make it soft and plastic. vThe heat chamber is now removed, the carriage .I3 swung downward on its iulcrum I4 and the piston motor operated to close the mold. brings a boss 82 on the lower face of the bar l1 into position to form the upper end wall of the mold.

Atthe time the the vlever 51 (Fig. 1) is in that. the `springs 55 hold lifted. This permits .the

parison is placed in position its lowered position so placing o f the parison.

' after which thedever' 5 1 is swung upward to the Fig. l position so that the cams 53 torce the cylinder 45 downward, thereby clamping-the parison and also making a tight seal, preventingthc escape of air. The yvalve disk 5I is now given a step rotation, bringing it to the. Fig. 6 position in which a pressureline is-'established through the ,channels 1s, 11, 1s, port 1s stem 46 to the nozzleor blow-head 5I. thereby supplying air pressure son frci'i the shape shown inFIg. 8 to its final form 8. 9) in the heated mold.

The valve disk 5I is now given another step movement.

cooperating with a camv the lug l2, the valve positioned on the sup. I

The lowering oi the carriage Il the valve cylinder 4l (Fig. 4) and nouow and expanding the pari-v Duringthisstepthc coming" rides molded article.

od the high portion of the cam track, permitting the valve stem 6 to `be lifted by the coil spring di, thus breaking `the seal between the valve heads l and 4l. The pressure within the blown -article is thus dissipated as the air is free to escape downward through the cylinder 45 to the exhaust pipell. As the valve disk 6| completes said last mentioned step movement, the channel iii is brought into register with a port 83 (Fig. 4) in a water line 8B through which water is supplied and forced upwardly through the valve stem dtand into the mold. The interior surface oi the molded article is thus sprayed with coldl Water, quickly chilling it. The valve disk 6I is now given another step rotation, bringing the with the channel 'i8 so that air is again blown into the interior of the mold, thereby drying the While-this is taking-place the valve head 5l, is still in its lifted position so that the aircan, escape through the exhaust pipe.

. The valve disk 6| may now be given another step rotation, thereby cutting off the air supply. The

l piston motor is now actuated to open the mold, the lever 5l is lowered, permitting the valve cylinder 4 5 to be lifted,- the carriage I3 is swung upward, and the finished article removetL The water cooling and drying of the blown article require only a very short time so that only the interior surface portion of the mold is cooled to any appreciable degree. This permits the mold tope reheated quickly and economically.

as shown in Fig. 4 the valve member B2 may be provided with a duplicate set of ports, anduchannels diametrically opposite those above described.

permitting a cycle of operations to -be effected during each half roiation of the valve disk. Ii"

desired, electrical h ating elements1 8B (Figs.` 1 and 2) may be embedded` in theplate 42 tor maintaining the valve mechanism at the required temperature.

Modifications may be resorted to within the "spirit and scope of my invention.

l. The method which comprises expanding a hollow preform of thermoplastic molding material within a heated mold by pneumatic pressure, applying a cooling liquid tothe interior surface of the plastic blown article and-wetting said surface with the liquid while the liquid" is at a low enough temperature t`o rapidly cool the molded.

material and while the said-material is vin contact with the heated mold, thereby setting the material, and separating the article .from the mold walls before more than a superficial cooling of said walls is produced by said cooling liquid.

2. Themetlod which comprisesblowing a .hollow preform of organic .thermoplastic material within a heated mold while said materialis in av 1 `plastic condition, and wetting the interior. sur- -60 'face .of the plastic blown article by the applica-` tion to said surface'of a chillingrllquid at a low enough mperature'to rapidly cool the material w e in contactwith the heated mold.` thereby'chilling and setting the material 3'.V Themethod which comprises blowing a hollow preform of organic thermoplastic material and while the cooling liquid to the panded article while the latter is in said contact 5"" confined pneumatic within a heated mold while said material is in a plastic condition, and chilling and setting the material While in intimate contact with the hot mold walls by spraying and wetting the interior 5 walls of the blown article with a cooling liquid.

4. The method which comprises heating a holflow preform of organic thermoplastic material and .thereby rendering it suiflciently soft and plastic for molding, enclosing the heated preform 10 within the mold cavity oi a heated mold, introducing air under pressure to the interior of the preform and thereby expanding it within the mold to form a blown article with the walls of the article in intimate contact with the walls of 16 the mold cavity, and thereafter releasing the channel 7l' into position to connect an air port 85 pressure within the article and circulating a cooling liquid in contact with the interior wall surfaces oi said article while the said contact with the heated walls of the mold cavity is maintained temperature of said material is low enough to permit ,the cooling liquid to wet the said wall surfaces, whereby themolding material is chilled and set while still'in said contact with the heated mold.

25 5.' The method which :comprises applying 'a conned pneumatic pressure within a hollo'w thermoplastic preform enclosed within a heated mold while in a plastic condition and thereby ex'- panding the preform to the contour of the mold.

3o with the walls of the expanded article in intimate contact with the walls of the mold cavity, and

thereafter releasing 'the pressure and chilling and setting the article by the application of a inner surface ofthe exwith the heated'walls of the mold, with the cooling liquid at a substantially lower temperature' than the mold, and wetting the said surface with the cooling liquid and maintaining it wet with the 40 cooling liquid throughout said chilling and setting of the article.

6. The method which comprises applying a -cdniined pneumatic lpressure within Va hollow thermo-plastic preform enclosed vwithin a heated moldA while ina plastic condition and thereby expanding the preformV to the contour of the mold, thereafter releasing the pressure and chill- 'ing and setting the article by wetting with a lcooling liquid, the interior surface of the expanded f article in the mold, and circulating air withinl saidarticle and thereby,expelling the cooling liquid from the interior of said article and drying the said interior surface while in the mold.

7. 'I'he method winch comprises applying a pressure within a hollow thermoplastic preform fenclosd within a heated mold while in a plastic condition and thereby expanding the preform to the contour of the mold.

thereafter releasing the pressure and applying a cooling liquid to the interior surface ofthe exvpanded article in the mold, thereby wetting said surface and chillingandsetting said article, and expelling from the interior of said residual yportionof the cooling liquid by a force- 5 ful circulation of air -stilL in the mold.K

VICTOR E. HOFMANN.

article any.

within the article while. 

